What parents need to know

Essential Vaccinations for the Start of the School Year: What Families Need to Know

It’s time for back-to-school vaccinations! This week, Westchester County parents are encouraged to call to schedule an appointment appointments for vaccinations. People with children who qualify for the Vaccinations for Children (VCF) NY state program can make free appointments with the Westchester County Health Department at one of our local clinics. This year the county will provided vaccinations at two Yonkers public schools for families eligible for the VCF program, including adults! Here’s everything you need to know about vaccination preparations for the start of the school year.

Be sure to check out… How to Help Your Kids Beat the Back-to-School Blues.

Stay on schedule

According to the New York Department of Health, Children in New York State who attend daycare or school through 12th grade are required to be vaccinated unless they have a valid medical exemption. The NY State Department of Health (DOH) recommends having all vaccinations on hand before returning to school suggested schedule to ensure that children finished and be able to attend school. This applies to all public, private, and religious schools. Non-medical exemptions are not allowed.

As noted on the DOH website, parents must provide proof of their child’s up-to-date vaccinations or a valid medical exemption within 14 days of the first day of school or daycare. Children who are unvaccinated or overdue must receive at least the first dose of all required vaccines within the first 14 days of attending or remaining in school or daycare. Follow-up vaccines in the series must be received within 14 days of when they are required to complete the vaccination series.

For more information about vaccinations, visit health.ny.gov. For information about exceptions, visit the Childcare programs, schools and post-secondary institutions.

The CDC publicly provides vaccination schedules to health care providers. If families want to stay on track and see what is recommended, visit www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules.

Vaccinations for Families in Westchester

Families in Westchester County can now take advantage of free vaccination clinics for the new school year. These clinics are a great way to make sure your children get the necessary vaccinations for the upcoming school year.

The county has arranged for vaccines to be administered at two schools in Yonkers, Yonkers Montessori Academy and Enrico Fermi School. Any eligible Yonkers student can receive free vaccinations through the state’s Vaccines for Children (VFC) program at these locations, but appointments are required. To schedule an appointment, families are asked to call 914-995-5800.

County Health Department nurses will be at Montessori Academy on Thursday, August 8th to administer Tdap, Meningitis and Hepatitis B vaccines. On Friday, September 13th, nurses will be administering vaccines at Enrico Fermi School.

More good news for families: The health department has expanded vaccine appointment availability to all VFC-eligible Westchester County students. Appointments are now open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the following days: Mondays at the White Plains clinic, Fridays at the Yonkers clinic, and Thursdays starting August 29 at the Yonkers clinic. Again, to book your appointments, call 914-995-5800.

White Plains Clinic Location

134 Court Street, 1st Floor in White Plains

Yonkers Clinic Location

20 South Broadway, 2nd Floor in Yonkers

Mandatory vaccinations for students (as shared by the NY State DOH)

Vaccinations required for childcare, preschool and school attendance

• Diphtheria and tetanus toxoid vaccine and pertussis vaccine (DTaP or Tdap)
• Hepatitis B vaccine
• Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine
• Polio vaccine
• Chickenpox (varicella) vaccine

Additional vaccinations for secondary school and college

• Tdap vaccine for groups 6-12
• Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine (MenACWY) for Grades 7-12
  • Students in grade 12 require an additional booster dose of MenACWY on or after their 16th birthday

Additional vaccinations for daycare and toddler groups

• Haemophilus influenza type b conjugate vaccine (HiB)
• Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV)

The time to go back to school has come again, and the best thing we can do is: make sure that were prepared early to avoid any last minute mishaps. It’s time to make arrangements with your local health care providers today! Let’s all have a smooth and easy back-to-school season.